Panthers announce flurry of practice-squad moves, including 4 additions

The Panthers have signed RB Emani Bailey, TCU’s leading rusher from 2023, to their practice squad along with three others.

The Carolina Panthers made a handful of moves to their practice squad on Tuesday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has signed four players to the group—including running back Emani Bailey. The 23-year-old is an undrafted rookie out of Texas Christian University.

A Dallas, Texas native, Bailey played his first two seasons of collegiate ball (2020 to 2021) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Over 16 games as a Ragin’ Cajun, he rushed for 702 yards and eight touchdowns on 112 carries.

Bailey transferred over to TCU in time for the 2022 campaign, where he was positioned behind Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado on the Horned Frogs’ depth chart. He took over starting duties in 2023, running for 1,209 yards and eight scores in 12 games.

The 5-foot-8, 201-pounder broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs this past spring. Bailey would, however, be selected in 2024 UFL draft in July—as he was taken in the third round by the Birmingham Stallions.

He’d remain with the Chiefs through the summer and go on to appear in all three of their preseason contests, amassing 29 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

Carolina also added wide receiver T.J. Luther, tight end Dominique Dafney and outside linebacker Thomas Incoom—who was waived from the 53-man roster this past Saturday.

To make room for the signings, the Panthers released wide receiver Sam Pinckney and safety Alex Cook from the practice squad.

They also placed running back Dillon Johnson and tight end Stephen Sullivan on the practice squad/injured list. Sullivan, as noted by head coach Dave Canales on Monday, sustained a “pretty significant” knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Panthers bring rookie WR back to practice squad

The Panthers have brought back WR Sam Pinckney, signing the rookie back to their practice squad on Wednesday.

As announced on Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers have signed wideout Sam Pinckney to their practice squad. This will be the rookie receiver’s second stint with the group in 2024.

Carolina initially brought in Pinckney, a local product out of Coastal Carolina University, as an undrafted free-agent signing this past spring. The Greenwood, S.C. native played his final two collegiate campaigns with the Chanticleers after spending his first four (as a Panther) at Georgia State University.

Over his six seasons, Pinckney totaled 256 receptions for 3,691 yards and 24 touchdowns over 59 games in the Sun Belt Conference. He finished as an All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team selection in 2020 and a Third Team selection in both 2022 and 2023.

Following his release amidst the Panthers’ cutdown to their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 regular season, Pinckney returned as a member of the practice on Sept. 25. He’d be released again just five days later to make room for fellow receiver Deven Thompkins and tight end Stephen Sullivan.

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Panthers bring back 2 players to practice squad on Monday

Speedy WR Deven Thompkins has returned to the Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers are still sorting out their wideout room in the absence of Adam Thielen.

As announced on Monday, the team has signed receiver Deven Thompkins to their practice squad. The 24-year-old was a member of Carolina’s summer roster before being waived/injured on Aug. 11.

Thompkins spent the 2023 campaign alongside Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who was serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Canales gave reporters an idea of what the team was getting in the speedy 5-foot-8, 155-pounder when they added him during the offseason.

“I’m excited to get him in here,” he said of Thompkins back in July. “He’s another kick returner as well. He’s got some explosive elements to his play—so, really fun. Brings a different style of guy. We got a really big, strong group. But it’s also good to have those change-of-pace guys that can attack the defense a different way.”

Thielen, the offense’s primary slot receiver, was placed on injured reserve last Tuesday due to the hamstring injury he sustained in Week 3’s 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Thompkins, under Canales, played 63.7 percent of his snaps from the inside this past season.

Carolina also signed tight end Stephen Sullivan to the practice squad. Sullivan appeared in 28 games for the Panthers between 2021 and 2023.

To help make some room for the returns, the team released rookie wideout Sam Pinckney from the group.

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Panthers sign rookie WR to practice squad on Wednesday

The Panthers have brought back rookie WR Sam Pinckney.

The Carolina Panthers brought back a familiar face on Wednesday.

As announced this morning, the team has added wideout Sam Pinckney to their practice squad. The rookie receiver, who was signed by Carolina following the 2024 NFL draft, spent the offseason as a member of the Panthers.

A Greenwood, S.C. native, Pinckney split his six-year college career between Georgia State University and nearby Coastal Carolina University. His first four seasons were played for the former in Atlanta—where he amassed 113 receptions for 1,668 yards and 13 touchdowns over 33 games from 2018 to 2021.

Pinckney then moved back to his home state, joining the Chanticleers for what would be a highly-productive two-year tenure. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder recorded 143 catches for 2,023 yards and 11 scores between 2022 and 2023—earning All-Sun Belt Third-team honors in both campaigns.

His return to Charlotte comes after the news of the hamstring injury to veteran wideout Adam Thielen, who was placed on injured reserve yesterday. As a result, the Panthers promoted Pinckney’s fellow rookie Jalen Coker to the 53-man active roster.

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Panthers 2024 roster cuts tracker

Keep it here as we track each move the Panthers make in getting to their initial 53-man roster

Despite the difficult decisions that lie ahead, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales isn’t shying away from the challenge of getting down to his very first 53-man roster.

“Yeah, it’s hard. And I’m excited for it,” he told reporters after last Wednesday’s practice. “When you respect and regard the whole unit and you’re kinda bringing everybody up at the same time—with the teaching, with the practices, the drill work and all those things as we improve everyone—it makes the decisions harder and harder.

“So I’m really excited about doing this with Dan [Morgan], with Brandt [Tilis], with the coaching staff. We’ve kinda had our touch-points throughout camp to evaluate where we’re at right now, and then we’ll have that culmination after we get through this last game.”

Well, they got through that game—besting the host Buffalo Bills in their final preseason outing of the summer on Saturday. So now, the “excitement” begins.

Keep it here, from now until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, as we track each of the team’s moves in the path to their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season.

Cuts:

  • G Jack Anderson (waived)
  • WR Sam Pinckney (waived)
  • S Rudy Ford (released)
  • WR Michael Strachan (waived)
  • OLB Luiji Vilain (waived)
  • TE Feleipe Franks (waived)
  • RB Jaden Shirden (waived)
  • LB Chandler Wooten (waived)
  • CB Dicaprio Bootle (waived)
  • QB Jack Plummer (waived)
  • RB Mike Boone (released)
  • OLB Derrick McLendon (waived)
  • TE Jacob Hollister (released)
  • G Mason Brooks (waived)
  • OLB Kenny Dyson (waived)
  • WR Terrace Marshall Jr. (waived)
  • TE Jordan Matthews (released)
  • CB Willie Drew (waived)
  • DT Junior Aho (waived/injured)
  • OT Tyler Smith (waived/injured)
  • DT Ulumoo Ale (waived)
  • LB Aaron Beasley (waived)
  • S Alex Cook (waived)
  • OT Jeremiah Crawford (waived)
  • OT Ricky Lee (waived)
  • CB Quandre Mosely (waived)
  • DT Walter Palmore (waived)
  • DT T.J. Smith (waived)
  • CB Chris Wilcox (waived)
  • G Ike Boettger (released)
  • TE Jesper Horsted (released)

Injury placements:

  • RB Jonathon Brooks (NFI)
  • OLB D.J. Wonnum (PUP)
  • OLB Amaré Barno (PUP)
  • CB Dane Jackson (IR/designated for return)
  • S Sam Franklin Jr. (IR/designated for return)
  • LB Tae Davis (IR)
  • OLB Cam Gill (IR)

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Panthers sign 5 players on Monday

The Panthers made a handful of moves on Monday.

The Carolina Panthers were quite busy on Monday.

As announced late this afternoon, the team has signed five players as they enter the final week of the 2024 preseason. Amongst the additions are cornerbacks Chris Wilcox and Quandre Mosely—both of whom worked out for the Panthers today.

Wilcox was a seventh-round selection of the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. The Brigham Young University product—who has also picked up stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers—has yet to appear in a regular-season contest.

The same can be said for Mosely, who has bounced around the league since signing as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022. Along with Dallas, the 25-year-old has made stops in Seattle, Tampa Bay and New England.

Both are joined by running back Jaden Shirden, wide receiver Sam Pinckney and cornerback Willie Drew—all undrafted rookies who have already spent time with the Panthers this offseason.

To make room for the signees, the Panthers placed cornerback Anthony Brown and quarterback Jake Luton on injured reserve, waived/injured cornerback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Tayvion Robinson and waived running back Dillon Johnson.

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Panthers sign 4 players on Friday

The Panthers added a handful of help on Friday.

The Carolina Panthers officially added a handful of players on Friday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has signed four free agents—wide receiver Devin Carter, tight end Feleipe Franks, outside linebacker Kemoko Turay and cornerback Kiondre Thomas.

Turay, whose signing was first reported on by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston this morning, emerges out of a pass-rushing group that included a few notable tryouts. Carolina also hosted looks for 2017 Pro Bowler Yannick Ngakoue, former Cincinnati Bengal and New York Jet Carl Lawson and Marquis Haynes Sr.—who has spent each of his six NFL campaigns with the Panthers.

The 6-foot-5, 248-pounder was a second-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. He’s amassed 12.0 career sacks, as well as short stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons, over five seasons.

To make room for the bunch, the Panthers placed veteran wideout Cam Sims on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and waived receiver Sam Pinckney, offensive lineman Christian Duffie and safety Clayton Isbell.

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Panthers projected depth chart following 2024 NFL draft

How do this year’s draft picks and undrafted free agents fit into the fold for the Panthers?

We’re not going to get too ahead of ourselves with our new friends. But we are a bit eager to see their names in the mix.

Here, with undrafted free agents included, is our projected depth chart for the Carolina Panthers following the 2024 NFL draft . . .

Bold = draft pick
Italics = undrafted free-agent signee

Offense:

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
QB Bryce Young Andy Dalton Jack Plummer
RB Chuba Hubbard Miles Sanders Jonathon Brooks Raheem Blackshear Mike Boone Spencer Brown Tarik Cohen Jaden Shirden
WR Diontae Johnson Jonathan Mingo David Moore Jalen Camp Jalen Coker
WR Xavier Legette Terrace Marshall Jr. Michael Strachan Cam Sims Sam Pinckney
SWR Adam Thielen Ihmir Smith-Marsette Devin Carter
TE Tommy Tremble Ja’Tavion Sanders Ian Thomas Stephen Sullivan Jordan Matthews Chris Pierce
LT Ikem Ekwonu Yosh Nijman Ricky Lee Jeremiah Crawford
LG Damien Lewis Cade Mays
C Austin Corbett Brady Christensen Andrew Raym
RG Robert Hunt Chandler Zavala Nash Jensen J.D. DiRenzo
RT Taylor Moton Ilm Manning Badara Traore

Defense:

1st 2nd 3rd 4th
DE Derrick Brown LaBryan Ray Jaden Crumedy
DT Shy Tuttle Nick Thurman Popo Aumavae
DE A’Shawn Robinson Raequan Williams
OLB Jadeveon Clowney K’Lavon Chaisson Amaré Barno Derrick McClendon
LB Shaq Thompson Trevin Wallace Chandler Wooten Claudin Cherelus
LB Josey Jewell Tae Davis Michael Barrett Jackson Mitchell
OLB D.J. Wonnum DJ Johnson Luiji Vilain Taylor Upshaw
CB Jaycee Horn D’Shawn Jamison Lamar Jackson
CB Dane Jackson Dicaprio Bootle Willie Drew
SS Xavier Woods Jammie Robinson Sam Franklin Jr. Demani Richardson Clayton Isbell
FS Jordan Fuller Nick Scott Alex Cook DeShawn Gaddie Jr.
NCB Troy Hill Chau Smith-Wade AJ Parker

Special teams:

1st 2nd
K Eddy Piñeiro Harrison Mevis
P Johnny Hekker
LS JJ Jansen
KR Raheem Blackshear Ihmir Smith-Marsette Xavier Legette
PR Ihmir Smith-Marsette Xavier Legette

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